Knock-down table and desk construction



1967 L. A. TIMMERMAN 3,306,692

KNOCK-DOWN TABLE AND DESK CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 24, 1966 6Sheets-Sheet 1 LEONARD A. TIMMERMAN INVENTOR.

Feb. 28, 1967 L. A. TIMMERMAQ 3,306,692

KNOCK-DOWN TABLE AND DESK CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 24, 1966 6Sheets-Sheet a INVENTOR.

LEONARD A. TIMMERMAN A rice/v5 V5 N A M R E M M T A L KNOCK-DOWN TABLEAND DESK CONSTRUCTION 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 24, 1966 IN VENTOR.

LE QNARD A.TINIMERMAN Feb. 28, R967 L. A. TIMMERMAN 3,396,692

KNOCK-DOWN TABLE AND DESK CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 24, 1966 1 sSheets-Sheet 4 LEONARD A. TIMMERMAN INVENTOR.

BYJW aZ/ JK J/ ATTORNEYS Feb. 28, 167 L. A. TIMMERMAN KNOCK-DOWN TABLEAND DESK CONSTRUCTION 6 Sheets- Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 24, 1966 LEONARDA.TIMMERMAN ATTORNEYS United States ?atet1t Ofifice 3,306,092 PatentedFeb. 28, 1967 3,306,692 KNOCK-DOWN TABLE AND DESK CONSTRUCTION LeonardA. Timmerman, 8723 Talbot Road, Edmonds, Wash. 98020 Filed Feb. 24,1966, Ser. No. 540,120 19 Claims. (Cl. 312-231) This application is acontinuation-in-part of my copending application Serial No. 451,800,filed Apr. 29, 1965, now abandoned and entitled Desk and Drafting Table.

This invention relates to tables and desks of knockdown construction,and more particularly to tables and desks of this type which arecharacterized essentially by interlocking stacked components, and inassembly require the manipulation of but a very few, if any, screwfasteners.

As will be recognized by those skilled in the furniture art, aknock-down desk or table is a desk or table composed of a plurality ofseparate sections or units. The sections or units are handled and storedin an unassembled condition in route from the manufacturer to the user,and are then assembled at the location of use.

Known conventional desks and tables of knock-down construction involve aplurality of screw type fasteners (i.e. sheet metal screws or bolt andnut assemblies) at each joint and at other locations between components.It is not uncommon to find in a single desk or table of this type up toabout one hundred fasteners, which are all necessary in order to achievethe desired amount of stability and rigidity. In assembly, thesefasteners must be set in place and tightened, and this takes time to do.Such assembly would take one or two men as much as one to one andonehalf hours to perform. Typical examples of desks and tables of suchconventional knock-down construction are disclosed by Diehm US. PatentNo. 2,714,540 and Abrahamson US. Patent No. 3,125,387.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a knock-downconstruction for both tables and desks which makes possible extremelyrapid assembly and disassembly. Tables and desks of the presentinvention are composed of interlocking components which in assembly aremerely stacked together one on another, or between two others, and areinterlocked in position. The interlocking of the various componentsgives the assembled desk or table acceptable stability and rigidity, andwhen it is desired to disassemble the desk or table the components aremerely pulled apart or unstacked.

Briefly, tables and desks constructed according to the present inventioncomprise a frame composed of a pair of rigid end units, each havingupper front, upper rear, and lower joint stations. Each joint stationincludes lock surface means, which is preferably a flat or planar innersurface, positionable opposite the lock surface means of thecorresponding joint station on the other end unit. Each joint stationalso includes a hook support adjacent the lock surface means. The otherframe members are an upper front cross member, an upper rear crossmember, and a lower cross member. The ends of each cross mem ber areshaped to abuttingly contact the lock surface means between which thecross member extends. An end hook is provided at each cross member. Toassemble, the end units are set apart in opposed parallelism. The crossmembers are interconnectable between the end units merely by hooking theend hooks over the hook supports at the proper joint stations. When thecross members are in place the ends thereof are in substantially tightabutting contact with the lock surface means. The hook connectionsprevent endwise and downward movement of the cross members, and theabutting contact of the cross member ends with the lock surface meanssubstantially prevents both vertical and horizontal angular give of thecross members relative to the joint stations. This construction andmanner of component interlock give the joint so formed thecharacteristic of being substantially fixed, resulting in the assembleddesk or table being a substantially rigid structure.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a desk or table ofthe character described in which the assembled frame is provided with atleast one set of horizontal and vertical restraint plate means, and suchdesk or table also includes a storage unit snugly fittable withinboundaries established by such restraining means, and by parts of theframe.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a desk or tableof the type described, which comprises a plurality of storage units,each adapted to snugly fit in and among, and interlock with, the framecomponents and/ or another storage unit or units.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a desk ortable of knock-down construction which is acceptably stable and rigidand does not require a plurality of screw type fasteners or othersemi-permanent fastening means at each joint and between adjacent unitsor components.

Yet another object is to provide a desk or table of the above-describedcharacter which involves a relatively few parts and is simple inconstruction, and thus is economical to manufacture; is light weight andof little bulk when disassembled, and therefore involves a minimum ofpacking, storage and shipping costs; and which requires no particularskill to assemble and disassemble.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingdescription, appended claims and annexed drawing.

Referring to the drawing wherein like reference characters designatelike parts throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, taken from above and towards the front andone side,-of a drafting table typifying the present invention, such viewshowing the table assembled and ready for use, with the top thereofdepicted by broken or phantom lines for clarity of illustration of theframe parts and joint details immediately below it;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view taken from the same aspect as FIG. 1, butin which the top of the drafting table is omitted and the remainingparts are exploded, for the purpose of separately and clearly showingthe component features and joint details which together render the tableeasily and rapidly assemblable and disassemblable;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the assembled drafting table;

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the drafting table;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along lineS-5 of FIG. 3, and specifically illustrating the joint details renderingthe upper cross members readily interconnectable and removable frombetween the rigid end units;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the assembled drafting table, with the topdepicted again by broken or phantom lines for the purpose of exposingthe table components situated beneath it;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a modified form of drafting tableconstructed according to the present invention, taken from the sameaspect as FIG. 1, such view presenting a solid line showing of the framecomponents and the foot rest, and a broken or phantom line showing ofthe top and three storage units, and also presenting a broken lineshowing of the foot rest in an extended position;

FIG. 8 is another perspective view of the modified form of draftingtable, taken from the same aspect as FIG. 7, with the top thereofomitted and all other parts depicted by solid lines and separated fromeach other;

FIG. 9 is a front elevational view of the modified form of draftingtable;

FIG. is a fragmentary sectional view of the modified table, takensubstantially along line lib- 10 of FIG. 7, and showing the manner ofsupport or suspension of the rear storage unit; and

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view of the modified table, takensubstantially along line 11-11 of FIG. 7, and showing the manner inwhich the side storage units are locked in place between components ofthe frame, and are firmly secured without the use of screw fasteners orthe like.

Referring more specifically to the several figures of the drawing, thedrafting table is shown to include a composite frame comprising a pairof rigid end units 12, and upper and lower cross membersinterconnectable therebetween. Each end unit 12 is a preconstructedrigid assembly of legs and cross ties. The legs 14, 16 may be made fromtubular steel, or a structural alloy, and are preferably rectangular incross-section. By way of typical and therefore non-limitive example, thelegs may measure approximately two and one-half inches square byapproximately thirty-six inches in height. The front and rear legs 14,16 of each end unit are interconnected near their upper ends by a crosstie d8, which may be of inwardly opening channel form, possessing arelatively deep web 2%, an upper flange 22 and a lower flange 24. Theupper cross ties 18 are welded or otherwise permanently secured at theirends to the upper portions of the legs 14, 16. A lower cross tie issimilarly welded or otherwise permanently secured in place between lowerportions of the legs 14, 16. The lower cross tie 30 preferably consistof a length of angle iron having one leg or flange 32 thereof directedhorizontally and the other leg or flange 34 thereof directed verticallyupwardly.

Each pair of legs 14, T6, and thus each end unit 12, possesses a pair ofinwardly facing planar surfaces a in co-planar parallelism with eachother, and a second pair of planar surfaces b in opposed parallelismwith each other, and disposed at right angles to the surfaces a. Aheaded pin 28, hereinafter sometimes referred to as a hook support,extends perpendicularly outwardly from the upper portion of each surfaceb, at a location between the fianges 22, 24 and inwardly of the web 20.

The upper portions of the surfaces at, b, and the headed pin member 28,on each front leg 14 constitute an upper front joint station. Similarly,the upper portions of the surfaces a, b, and the headed pin member 28,on each rear leg 16 constitute an upper rear joint station. The centralportion, or another intermediate portion, of each lower cross member 30constitutes a lower joint station.

At the lower joint station the upper edge and outer side of the verticalflange 34 constitutes a hook support, and the inner surface of the leg34, which is planar and is in opposed parallelism with a correspondingsurface portion of the vertical flange 3d of the lower cross member 30of the opposite end unit 12, constitutes a planar joint surface.

An upper front cross member 49 and an upper rear cross member arereadily and separately interconnectable between the upper front andupper rear joint stations, respectively, of the end units 12. A lowercross member 70 is readily and independently interconnectable betweenthe lower joint stations of the end units 12. All of the cross members30, 50, 70 possess squared ends, and downwardly opening hooks adjacentsuch ends.

All it takes to assemble the frame is to set the two end units 12 apart,in opposed parallelism, and then to individually. drop the cross members40, 59, 70 in place, in the following manner. The ends of the upperflange portions 22 of the cross ties 18 are cut away to provide avenuesof ingress and egress for the hooks carried by the upper cross members40, 50. With the hooks above the hook supports, the squared ends of thecross members 43, S0, 70 are placed against the planar joint surfaces,and then the cross members are moved downwardly so that the hooks engagethe hook supports. In preferred form, these constitute the only stepsnecessary to assemble the frame. The hook connections and the abuttingcontact of the squared ends of the cross members with the planar jointsurfaces form the joints. Such joints are acceptably fixed and theassembled frame is a relatively rigid and sturdy structure, despite theabsence of a plurality of screw fasteners or the likeat the joints.

Preferred embodiments of the individual cross members, and of thehook-and-abutting-surface joints, will now be specifically described.

The upper front cross member 40 may be of rectangular tubular form, ormay be of downwardly opening lipped channel form, with rectangularproportions in cross-section, as is illustrated. The hooks attached tothe ends of the upper front cross member 49 are designated 42. They areshown to comprise a mounting portion or shank 44 that side laps and iswelded or otherwise firmly secured to the inner surface of the upperfront frame member 4%, and a downwardly turning hook arm 46. The portionof the hook 42 which projects outwardly beyond the squared end of thecross member 4%) is planar and together with the squared end forms aright angled nook.

When the hook is set in place on its hook support 28, the portion of thehook support 28 between the head of such support 28 and the surface b isengaged in the recess formed on the underneath side of the hook 42 wherethe shank 4 joins the point 45. When the book 42 is in place, thesquared end of the cross member 4b is in substantially tight abuttingcontact with the joint surface a, and the leg facing side of the book42; is in substantially tight contact with the surface b. The bookconnection prevents the cross member 4% from being displaced endwise (ineither direction) or downwardly relative to the vertical leg 14. Thesurface-to-surf-ace contact of the right angularly related lock surfacesof the cross member 49 (i.e. the squared end and hook surfaces) with theright angularly related lock surfaces a, b of the leg M, substantiallyprevent the cross member 46 from moving angularly either horizontally orvertically about the joint station a, b, 28. To further aid in assuringa tight joint, the inner edge 48 of the hook arm 46 is sloped so thatwhen the cross member 49 is forced downwardly the hook arm 46 acts as awedge; the end units T2 are drawn together; and the cross member is putin compression. In FIG. 5 the hook support is illustrated in the form ofa rivet. However, in some inst-allations it may be desirable to use athreaded pin or machine screw or bolt, so that it may be tightened oncethe cross members are in place.

The upper rear cross member 5th is preferably of inwardly openingchannel-like form. It is shown to comprise a relatively deep web 52, anupper flange 54, and a lower flange as. Web 52 may be formed so as topresent a vertical central area or panel 58 which extends generallyfiush with the free edges of the flanges 54, '56, and oblique panels 69,62 interconnected between the central panel 58 and the flanges 54, 56.As clearly shown by FXGS. 1 and 2, the end hooks 42 are secured to theinner surface of the vertical panel 58. The hooks 42 for the upper rearcross member 5d are identical in construction to the previouslydescribed hooks 42 on the upper front member 49, and they are related tothe squared ends of cross member 60 in the same manner, and in use theyfunction in the same manner as the front books 42.

The lower cross member 70 serves as both a frame member, for addingrigidity to the table, and as a mounting support for other components ofthe table, as will hereinafter be specifically described.

The lower cross member 70 is shown to have the proportions of arectangular plank, but is preferably formed from sheet metal. It isshown to comprise parallel front and rear edge surfaces 72, and a flathorizontal top surface 74. Both ends of member 70 are squared, and ahook extends outwardly beyond each squared end. Each such hook comprisesa horizontal top panel 75 that is restable on the upper edge of thevertical panel 34 of a cross tie 30, and a vertical hook panel 78extending downwardly from the outer end of the top panel 75. When thehook is in place, the vertical hook panel 76 is positioned outwardlycontiguous the vertical panel 34 of the cross tie 30.

The top panel 75 and the hook panel 76 may be made from the same pieceof sheet material as cross member 70, or they may be of separateconstruction and then secured to the ends of the member 70, as shown.

Preferably, a foot rest 80 is supported at a generally central locationon the lower cross member 70. Such foot rest 80 may be of inverted Lform, and include a horizontal step section 82 and a vertical riser 84.Rigidizing members or gussets 86 may be provided between the riser 84and the step section 82 for strengthening the assembly. Track members88, )0 are provided above orbelow the cross member 70, to receive theopposite edge portions of the step section 82. The track members 88, 99preferably have upstanding stop members 92, 94 positioned to prevent thefoot rest 81% from disengaging and sliding endwise out of engagement bythe tracks 88, 90. As clearly shown by FIGS. 3 and 4, for example, theriser 84 extends downward nearly to the floor, and gliders whichactually contact the floor are provided along its lower edge. Thisarrangement renders the .foot rest 80 floor supported at the front.

A top supporting rod 80 is telescopically received in each of the rearlegs 16. The rods 109 extend through a collar 1114 at the upper end ofeach rear leg 16. A look screw or other clamp means 106 is associatedwith the collar .104, and constitutes means for adjustably aflixing thevertical position of the support rods 1%. Preferably the upper endportion of each rod 1% is bent into a horizontal disposition, and suchhorizontal portion 168 contacts, and constitutes the immediate supportfor, the top 102.

The upper surface of the upper front cross member 40 is formed toinclude a plurality of sockets 110 which may be in the form of elongatedslots, as illustrated. A like number of tongues are attached to the top102, and depend downwardly therefrom and are engageable in the sockets11%. When the tongues 102 are engaged in the sockets 11%, the top isrestrained against movement in all directions except up, and its weightkeeps it down. In the embodiment of FIGS. l6, a storage unit 114, whichmay be a rectangular cabinet with drawers or shelves therein, a door orfront closure .116, handle 118, and key lock 120, is shown supported onthe lower cross member 70, to one side of the foot rest 80.

FIGS. 711 show a modified form of drafting table embodying features ofthe present invention. With respect to the manner of interconnection ofits cross members 40, 50f and 70, between its end units 12', suchdrafting table is the same as the table shown by FIGS. 1-6. There aretwo basic changes in the construction of the end units 12. The lowerflange '24 of the upper cross tie 18 is relatively wide and projectsinwardly of the table beyond the plane in which the leg surfaces a aresituated, which plane may be termed the interface of the end unit 12.The second difference is that the vertical leg 34 of the lower cross tie30' is recessed at the joint station, the recess being designated 121.When the lower cross member 70 is in place, the end boundaries of therecesses 121 restrain the cross member 70' against front or rearmovement relatively along the cross ties 30'.

The side storage unit 114 is preferably provided with asimilardownwardly opening recess 122 intermediate its ends, which recess 122 issized to snugly receive the portion of lower cross member 70' on whichthe storage unit 114 rests. .The storage unit 114 is of a height tosnugly fit between the upper surface of lower cross member 7t) and thelower surface of the lower flange 24 of the upper cross tie 18, whichflange 24' may also be termed a retaining plate. An upstanding sideretaining member or plate 124 may be provided atop the lower crossmember 70, and spaced inwardly along member 70' a distance from theinterface of the end unit 12' substantially equal to the width of thestorage unit 114. Thus, when the storage unit 114' is in place, it alsosnugly fits between the interface of the end unit 12 and the verticalretaining member 124.

As will be evident, the front-to-rear horizontal interlock providedwhere the recess 122 engages the end portion of lower cross member 70",the vertical interlock of the storage unit 114 between the upper surfaceof cross member 70 and the lower surface of retaining plate 24, and thesideways horizontal interlock of the storage unit 114 between the endunit 12' and the vertical retaining member 124, together aflix thestorage unit 114 in place, with the use of screw tie fasteners or thelike being unnecessary.

According to the present invention, a second storage unit 126 may beprovided at the opposite side of the table. Such storage unit 126 is ofthe same height, and may be of the same width, but is preferably shorterthan the storage unit 114'. It includes a bottom recess 128 for engagingthe portion of lower cross member 70' on which it rests. The crossmember 7 0' includes a second vertical retaining member 124 positionedto be contiguous the end inner side of storage unit 126 when the outerside thereof is against the interface of the adjoining end unit 12.

Preferably, when the shorter side storage unit 126 is in place, itsfront face is substantially situated in a common vertical plane with thefront face of the longer side storage unit 114'. This arrangement of thelonger and shorter side storage units 114, 126 makes it possible toposition a rear storage unit, which may be a rearwardly opening bookcase, in the generally square nook formed behind the shorter sidestorage unit and to the inside of the rear portion of the longer sidestorage unit 114.

As clearly shown by FIGS. 8 and 10, a channel means 132 forming anelongated mortise is secured along the top of the rear storage unit 130,and opens upwardly. The lower flange 56' of the upper rear cross member50 constitutes a tenon engageable by such mortise. The tenon is slidrelatively endwise into the mortise before the upper rear cross member56 is interconnected between the end units 12. When in place, the outerrear portion of the rear storage unit is contiguous the back of theshorter side storage unit 126, and the inner end of the rear storageunit 130 is contiguous the rear portion of the inner side of the longerside storage unit .114.

Preferably, hooks 134 and 136 are provided at the rear and the end ofthe rear storage unit 130, and are positioned to rest on the shorterside storage unit 126 and the longer side storage unit 114,respectively, to provide additional support for the rear storage unit130. An aperture 138 may be provided in the horizontal portion of eachhook 134, 136 for the reception of a single metal screw 14-0 (FIG. 10).

In the embodiment shown by FIGS. 7-11, the upper rear cross member 5% isshown in the form of a right angled channel having upper and'lowerflanges 54', 56, and a relatively deep planar web 52, the end hooks forsuch cross member 50 are formed from a metal plate that is at least asdeep as the web 52, so that such plate can be welded along its upper andlower edges to the end portions of the three edges of the flanges 54,56'.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 7-11, the vertical retaining members 124 areintegral parts of extruded elements which also include the track means142 for the foot rest 81 As best shown by FIG. 11, the top panel 82 ofthe foot rest 80 is preferably of bent sheet metal construction andincludes a vertical flange 144 at each side edge. An upwardly openinghook channel 146 is secured to the aeoaeaa 7 underside of the panel 82'slightly inwardly of the edge flange 144. The hooked channels 146 matewith the track forming means142, which in form is a similar, butdownwardly opening hook channel.

Another alternate construction for the upper rear cross member would bea straight web-type channel having shallower channel members of the sametype positioned to open toward the inner surface of the web of the upperrear cross member. Such smaller channel members would be secured alongthe free edges of their flanges 2, such as by welding. The smallerchannel members would be sized and positioned so that the outer surfaceof the web of the smaller channel would be situated in approximately thesame plane as the free edges of the upper and lower flanges of the upperrear cross member. Such alternate structure for the upper rear crossmember may be referred to as a double U or double channel construction.

From the foregoing, further variations, modifications, adaptations andusages of desks or tables (drafting and other types) according to thepresent invention will be apparent, within the scope of the followingclaims.

What is claimed is:

1. A desk or table capable of rapid assembly and disassembly, andcomprising: a pair of rigid end units, each having inwardly facing upperfront, upper rear, and lower joint stations, each joint stationincluding a planar joint surface positionable opposite the planar jointsurface of the corresponding joint station on the other end unit, and ahook support adjacent such planar joint surface; and separate upperfront, upper rear and lower cross members, each cross member having twosquared ends and a hook at each end, with the upper front cross memberbeing independently interconnectable between the upper front jointstations of the end units merely by hooking the end hooks of such crossmember over the hook supports at such stations, with the upper rearcross member being interconnectable between the upper rear jointstations of the end units merely by hooking the end hooks of such crossmember over the hook supports at such stations, with the lower crossmember being independentiy interconnectable between the lower jointstations of the end supports merely by hooking the end hooks of suchcross member over the hook supports at such stations, and with thesquared ends of the cross members making substantially tight abuttingcontact with the planar joint surfaces at the joint stations when thehooks are in. place, resulting in the joints so formed beingsubstantially fixed and the assembled desk or table being asubstantially rigid structure.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein each end unit comprisesrectangular tubular front and rear legs, with an upper portion of eachleg constituting a saii joint station, with a side surface of each saidupper leg portion constituting a said planer joint surface, and witheach upper hook support being a headed pin member projectingperpendicularly outwardly from the side of said upper leg portion thatis inwardly adjacent, and is perpendicularly to, the planer jointsurface of its joint station; wherein the end hooks for the upper crossmembers are elements which side lap and are rigidly secured to, theinner sides of the end portions of such cross members, and projectoutwardly beyond, and at right angles to, the squared ends of said crossmembers, and include downwardly facing notches for engaging the hooksupport between their heads and the hooks support carrying sides of theleg upper portions, and wherein the leg facing sides of the hooks makesubstantially tight contact with the hooks support carrying sides of theleg upper portions when the hooks are in place and the squared ends ofthe upper cross members make substantially tight abutting contact withthe said planer joint surfaces.

3. The combination of claim 2, wherein each end unit includes aninwardly opening channel member rigidly interconnected between ,theupper portions of the front and rear legs, and including a verticallydisposed web connected to the upper portions of the legs outwardly ofthe hook supports, and upper and lower flanges, with the ends of theupper flanges being cut away to provide avenues for the hooks into andout from their positions of engagement with the hook supports.

4. The combination of claim 1, wherein each endunit comprises verticalfront and rear legs and a horizontal member rigidly interconnectedbetween lower portions of said legs, and said horizontal member includesa vertical panel, a portion of the upper edge and outer side of whichconstitutes a said hook support, and a portion of the inner side ofwhich constitutes a said planer joint surface, and wherein the lowercross member has rectangular proportions in plan and each end hookthereon comprises a horizontal top panel, restable on the hook support,and a vertical hook panel positionable outwardly contiguous the hooksupport.

5. The combination of claim 4, wherein at the joint station of eachhorizontal member a top recess is formed in the vertical panel portionof such horizontal member, and the top panels of the hooks are snuglyreceivable in said recesses, to be restrained by the end boundariesthereof against front or rear movement relatively along the horizontalmembers.

6. The combination of claim 1, further including a top, and wherein theupper front cross member includes 'a plurality of spaced apart, upwardlyoriented sockets, and wherein said top includes a like number ofdownwardly oriented tongues insertable into said sockets, and saidcombination also further includes means carried 'by the upper rearportion of the desk or table for supporting the rear part of the tablein a position above the front part thereof, when the tongues arereceived in said sockets.

7. The combination of claim 6, wherein the end units each includetubular rear legs and the said means for supporting the rear part of thetable comprises vertically adjustable rod means telescopically receivedin said rear legs, and havins upper end portions on which the rearportion of the top rests.

3. The combination of claim 1, further including a storage unit, andwherein the lowest portion of the upper rear cross member forms anelongated tenon, and the storage unit includes means at its top forminga mortise for receiving said tenon, said tenon being slidable endwiseinto the mortise prior to assembly of the upper rear cross member inplace between said end units.

9. The combination of claim 8, wherein the upper rear cross memberincludes upper and lower flanges, and an interconnecting web whichangles inwardly in at least its initial extent upwardly from its line ofjuncture with the lower flange, said lower flange and the immediatelybordering portion of said web together constituting the said teno-n. 7

It). A desk or table comprising: a pair of rigid end units, each havingupper front, upper rear and lower joint stations, each of which jointstations is paired across the desk or table with the corresponding jointstation on the other end unit, when the end units are set apart inopposed parallelism, and at least one of said end units having auniplanar interface, and a horizontal retaining plate projecting from anupper portion of the end unit inwardly beyond said interface; a lowercross member independently interconnectable between the frame units, atthe lower joint stations; a rectangular storage unit supportable on saidlower cross member, substantially against said interface, and being of aheight to snugly fit between the retainer plate and the lower crossmember; an upper front cross member independently interccnnectablebetween the end units at the upper front joint stations, above both thehorizontal retaining plate and the storage unit; an upper rear crossmember independently interconnectable between the end units at the upperrear joint stations, above both the horizontal retaining plate and thestorage unit; and a top retainable on the end unit and cross memberassembly, above said flOnt and rear upper members.

11. The combination of claim 10, wherein said lower cross member furtherincludes an upwardly projecting retainer member spaced inwardly of theend unit interface, and said storage unit is of a width at its base tobe snugly receivable between the retaining member and the interface.

12. The combination of claim 10, wherein a downwardly facing recess isformed in an intermediate bottom portion of the storage unit, whichrecess is sized to snugly fit over and engage the portion of said lowercross memher on which the storage unit is supported, so that the storageunit is restrained against front or rear movement relative to the lowercross member.

13. The combination of claim 10, wherein both end units have anuniplanar interface and a retaining plate, and the combination includestwo side storage units, one of which is shorter than the other, and saidunits are positionable on the lower cross member with their front facessituated in substantially the same plane, and said combination furtherincludes a rear storage unit, having a rear wall positionablesubstantially against the rear end of the shorter side storage unit, andan end wall positionable substantially against the inner side of thatportion of the longer side storage unit which projects rearwardly beyondthe rear end of said shorter side storage unit, and independent supportmeans for supporting said rear storage unit in place.

14. The combination of claim 13, wherein the independent support meansfor the rear storage unit comprises an elongated mortise either at thelower edge of the rear cross member or atop the rear storage unit, andan elongated tenon on the other of such elements, inserta-ble endwiseinto said mortise.

15. The combination of claim 14, wherein the independent support meansfor the rear storage unit further comprises a hook plate extending fromthe rear storage unit over, and restable on, a rear portion of theshorter side storage unit, and another hook plate extending from therear storage unit over, and restable on a rear side portion of thelonger side storage unit.

16. A desk or table comprising: a pair of rigid end units, eachcomprising front and rear legs, and independent means rigidlyinterconnected between the upper and lower portions of said legs, and atleast one of said end units having a retainer plate projecting from arelatively upper position inwardly and beyond the innermost surfaces ofthe legs; separate upper and lower cross members independentlyinterconnectable between the end units, with the lower cross memberbeing restable at its ends on the lower means interconnected between thelegs of a said end unit; a rectangular storage unit supportable on saidlower cross member substantially against the inner surfaces of the legsof one of said end units, and being of a height to be snugly receivablebetween the retainer plate and the lower cross member; and a foot reston said lower cross member, adjacent the storage unit, and including aportion extending forwardly of the lower cross member, with the presenceof the storage unit between the lower cross member and the retainingplate lending stability to the lower cross member, including when forcesare applied to the foot rest.

17. The combination of claim 16, wherein the lower cross member includesopposed side guide means for the foot rest, and the foot rest includesparallel side portions insertable endwise into said guide means,rendering said foot rest adjustable in position, front to rear of thedesk or table.

18. The combination of claim 17, wherein the foot rest includes a footsupport panel and a vertical leg depending from said foot support paneland resting on the floor.

19. A desk or table capable of rapid assembly and disassembly, andcomprising: a pair of rigid end units, each having upper front and upperrear joint stations, each including lock surface means positionableopposite the lock surface means of the corresponding joint station onthe other end unit, and a hook support adjacent the joint surface means;and separate upper front and upper rear cross members, said crossmembers having ends formed to abuttingly contact the lock surface means,and end hooks, with the upper front cross member being independentlyinterconnectable between the upper front joint stations of the end unitsmerely by hooking the end hooks of such cross member over the hooksupports at such stations, with the upper rear cross member beingindependently interconnectable between the upper rear joint stations ofthe end units merely by hooking the end hooks of such cross member overthe hook supports at such stations, with the ends of the cross membersmaking substantially tight abutting contact with the lock surface meansat the joint stations when the hooks are in place, with the hookconnections preventing endwise and downward movement of the crossmembers, and with the abutting contact of the cross member ends with thelock surface means substantially preventing both vertical and horizontalangular give of the cross members relative to the joint stations,resulting in the joints so formed being substantially fixed and theassembled desk or table being a substantially rigid structure.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,735,375 11/1929Card et al 3 l2-257 2,263,050 11/1941 Rein 5296 2,696,415 12/1954Hirnelson 108-458 2,915,351 12/1959 Shinn 312 3,004,814 10/1961 Schulm312-l40.1 3,244,465 4/1966 Ulrich 312-231 CLAUDE A. LE ROY, PrimaryExaminer. CHANCELLOR E. HARRIS, Examiner.

1. A DESK OR TABLE CAPABLE OF RAPID ASSEMBLY AND DISASSEMBLY, ANDCOMPRISING: A PAIR OF RIGID END UNITS, EACH HAVING INWARDLY FACING UPPERFRONT, UPPER REAR, AND LOWER JOINT STATIONS, EACH JOINT STATIONINCLUDING A PLANAR JOINT SURFACE POSITIONABLE OPPOSITE THE PLANAR JOINTSURFACE OF THE CORRESPONDING JOINT STATION ON THE OTHER END UNIT, AND AHOOK SUPPORT ADJACENT SUCH PLANAR JOINT SURFACE; AND SEPARATE UPPERFRONT, UPPER REAR AND LOWER CROSS MEMBERS, EACH CROSS MEMBER HAVING TWOSQUARED ENDS AND A HOOK AT EACH END, WITH THE UPPER FRONT CROSS MEMBERBEING INDEPENDENTLY INTERCONNECTABLE BETWEEN THE UPPER FRONT JOINTSTATIONS OF THE END UNITS MERELY BY HOOKING THE END HOOKS OF SUCH CROSSMEMBER OVER THE HOOK SUPPORTS AT SUCH STATIONS, WITH THE UPPER REARCROSS MEMBER BEING INTERCONNECTABLE BETWEEN THE UPPER REAR JOINTSTATIONS OF THE END UNITS MERELY BY HOOKING THE END HOOKS OF SUCH CROSSMEMBER OVER THE HOOK SUPPORTS AT SUCH STATIONS, WITH THE LOWER CROSSMEMBER BEING INDEPENDENTLY INTERCONNECTABLE BETWEEN THE LOWER JOINTSTATIONS OF THE END SUPPORTS MERELY BY HOOKING THE END HOOKS OF SUCHCROSS MEMBER OVER THE HOOK SUPPORTS AT SUCH STATIONS, AND WITH THESQUARED ENDS OF THE CROSS MEMBERS MAKING SUBSTANTIALLY TIGHT ABUTTINGCONTACT WITH THE PLANAR JOINT SURFACES AT THE JOINT STATIONS WHEN THEHOOKS ARE IN PLACE, RESULTING IN THE JOINTS SO FORMED BEINGSUBSTANTIALLY FIXED AND THE ASSEMBLED DESK OR TABLE BEING ASUBSTANTIALLY RIGID STRUCTURE.